Huo Zi

“Huo Zi? Why did you choose this name? Is there some special meaning to it?” Zhou Chen could not help but scratch his head and ask upon hearing the name.

“Master, do you not think my current voice sounds like a child's? Besides, this name sounds very adorable. I like it very much.” The Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake swayed its heads, looking extremely pleased.

“Because it is adorable...” Zhou Chen's body stiffened slightly. This male serpent, with its fierce and formidable appearance, actually harbored such a personality. Adorable? Was it acting cute?

“What is the matter, Master? Do you not like this name?” The Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake tilted its body and asked.

“No, not at all. As long as you like it, it is fine. I shall call you Huo Zi from now on,” Zhou Chen replied with a smile.

[Blue Flame Life-Generating Flower: A precious and extremely rare spiritual medicine, born from the void.]
[Effects: Can directly enhance the strength of Fire-attribute cultivators and Fire-attribute magical beasts. If consumed by a magical beast, there is a probability of awakening its spiritual intelligence. If consumed by a magical beast that has already awakened its spiritual intelligence, it can enhance its intellectual development.]
[Blue Flame Life-Generating Flower: Sprout in ten years, bud in a hundred years, and mature to bloom in five years.]

“My, this thing can even be consumed by humans.” Zhou Chen crossed his arms, rubbing his chin as he pondered.

However, he had no intention of swallowing it himself. Having witnessed the formidable power emanating from the flower through his Green Snake Triple-Flower Pupils, he knew it was far from simple. If he swallowed it, there was no telling how much agony he would have to endure. Even a giant beast like the Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake had rolled on the ground in excruciating pain after consuming the Blue Flame Life-Generating Flower; merely thinking about it caused cold sweat to bead on Zhou Chen's forehead.

“Forget it. It is better to give it to Huo Zi. It can be considered a stroke of luck; a foolish snake has its own foolish fortune.” Zhou Chen shrugged.

After briefly handling the current situation, Zhou Chen and Nalan Yanran followed Yun Yun deeper into the forest. Having swiftly dealt with several attacks of various sizes along the way, the group successfully arrived at the foot of Inheritance Mountain.

Standing at the foot of the mountain, Zhou Chen narrowed his eyes and looked up. This Inheritance Mountain was incredibly majestic, piercing straight into the heavens. The summit was temporarily invisible, shrouded by white clouds wrapping around the mountainside.

“Heavens, this mountain is truly high, piercing right through the clouds. Sect Master Yun, can we use flight Dou Techniques here? Is it restricted like the swamp before? I do not wish to walk up. Climbing to this height on foot would surely ruin my legs,” Zhou Chen said, looking up at the clouds midway up the mountain.

“You have guessed correctly. These steps require relying on Soul Power to advance. Although we are not alchemists, the Yunlan Sect also places great importance on Soul Power. The Dou Techniques we cultivate are closely related to wind-attribute Dou Qi. To master the power of the wind, to sense the speed of falling leaves, and to feel the gentle breezes of the world, members of the Yunlan Sect must possess significant Soul Perception. Zhou Chen, as an alchemist, your Soul Power naturally far surpasses mine and Yanran's. I wonder how many steps you can ascend,” Yun Yun said, looking at Zhou Chen beside her.

“I am not the Young Sect Master, nor do I cultivate wind-attribute Dou Qi. Can I also receive the inheritance?” Zhou Chen asked, furrowing his brows.

“The wonder of the Gate of Life and Death lies precisely in this. In fact, throughout history, there have been powerful figures who did not possess the wind attribute yet assumed the position of Yunlan Sect Master to better pass down the inheritance to future generations. Anyone who enters the Gate of Life and Death, regardless of their Dou Qi attribute, can obtain the inheritance. This is because our ancestors used a mysterious secret art to break that limitation here. If you can obtain the inheritance, I shall not stop you. However, I hope you can abide by what you promised me previously.”

Seeing Yun Yun's serious expression, Zhou Chen nodded firmly. "Rest assured, what I have promised will naturally be done. You can completely trust me on this point."

“Master, what are you two talking about?” Nalan Yanran quickly noticed the anomaly, her gaze darting back and forth between the two.

“It is just a small transaction between your master and me. If you wish to know, you may ask her,” Zhou Chen replied with a smile.

“It is no secret...” Yun Yun briefly recounted the contents of their previous conversation to Nalan Yanran.

Not long after, the group began to ascend the steps. Yun Yun was not mistaken; there was indeed a force on these steps testing their Soul Perception. After walking only a dozen steps, Nalan Yanran felt a very slight resistance. Though the resistance was minor, had she not possessed excellent perception, she would have found it difficult to notice this change.

“By the way, Sect Master Yun, what was the maximum number of steps you ascended in the past? Several hundred or several thousand?” Zhou Chen asked Yun Yun, who was walking ahead.

“Two thousand five hundred steps. At that time, the pressure of the Soul Power made it impossible for me to breathe, forcing me to stop,” Yun Yun recalled the past, sighing softly.

“Two thousand five hundred steps is indeed formidable. Even without the Soul Power test, merely relying on physical endurance to climb two thousand five hundred steps is no simple feat.” Zhou Chen secretly gave Yun Yun a thumbs-up in admiration.

“Two thousand five hundred steps is truly a terrifying number. I do not even know if I can climb five hundred steps. Master is the most talented person in recent years, yet she only reached the two thousand five hundredth step and still did not reach the summit. This trial is truly too difficult.” Nalan Yanran worried silently for herself.

“Two thousand five hundred steps and still not the summit?” Zhou Chen asked as he walked. Yun Yun shook her head.

“Then in the history of the Yunlan Sect, what is the highest record?” Zhou Chen pressed further.

“If I remember correctly, it is four thousand steps.”

“Four thousand steps...” Zhou Chen and Nalan Yanran exclaimed in unison, then fell into silence.

The group conversed as they continued their slow ascent. Zhou Chen also began to feel the slight resistance that Nalan Yanran had felt earlier, but this sensation had absolutely no effect on him. Nalan Yanran, walking at the rear, began to slow down. Those who entered the Gate of Life and Death were generally at the Dou Ling level or above; she was indeed finding it somewhat difficult now.

About fifteen minutes later, Yun Yun, who was leading, stopped. "The first gate has arrived."

“A gate?” Zhou Chen looked around. On one side was a cliff, and on the other was a barren rock wall. Where was there any gate?

Yun Yun pointed to a pale green step ahead. The entire path had consisted of gray steps, making this green step exceptionally prominent. As Yun Yun stepped one foot onto it and then drew back, the space above the step began to ripple gently. The "gate" was slowly opening!